1. A Blueprint to Avoiding Collisions
Blueprint to Avoiding Collisions is designed to help
you build good defensive driving habits and skills
you need to know.

2. Our Top 4 Collisions
Currently, four types of collisions account for more
than 70% of all our traffic accidents.
Other Driver Fails to Yield
Other Driver Hits us from Behind
We hit other Driver from Behind
Parking and Backing

3. Other Driver Fails to Yield
A common fail-to-yield scenario
involves another driver who does
not heed red or yellow lights at
intersections.
Up to 30% of all traffic collisions occur at intersections, within 2 seconds after the light turns red.

4. Other Driver Fails to Yield
When you’re first in line at an
intersection and the light turns
green, wait at least 2 full seconds
before you even hit the gas.
Spend this time scanning the
intersections for last-minute red
light runners.

5. Hit from Behind There are two very common hit-from behind scenarios:
You’re hit from behind by a tailgater.
You’re hit from behind while you’re stopped at an intersection.

6. Hit from Behind To avoid being hit by a tailgater:
When you’re being tailgated, increase the distance between your car and the car ahead of you.
This gives both you and the tailgater room to stop safely if the car ahead of you stops suddenly.

7. Hit from Behind To avoid being hit while you’re stopped:
Have an escape route ready.
If you’re stopped behind another car, be sure you can clearly see where its rear tires touch the road. This ensures you have enough room to get into your escape route if you need to.

8. We Hit the Other Driver from Behind
Sometimes we’re the ones hitting from
behind…
The last two skills we’ll review will help you avoid all types of collisions.
Know them by heart and practice them until they become second nature.

9. We Hit the Other Driver from Behind
Constantly scan a full circle around your car.
Check your mirrors every 4 to 8 seconds
Check potential blind spots before you merge or pass
Constantly means don’t stop scanning just because you’re stopped.

10. We Hit the Other Driver from Behind
Use the 2 Second Rule in ideal conditions:
As the car ahead of you passes a landmark, such as a telephone pole, start counting.”One thousand one…”
If you pass the same landmark before you count off 2 full seconds, you’re too close to the car ahead of you.

11. We Hit the Other Driver from Behind
Increase the 2 Second Rule:
At night, make it at least 4 seconds
In rain, make it at least 4 seconds
In snow, fog, sleet or icy conditions, make it at least 8 to 12 seconds

12. Parking and Backing
There are many ways to get into trouble in a parking lot, but the most common involves backing… To avoid backing in the first place, use pull-through parking whenever possible:
In lots that feature head to head parking, look for 2 empty head to head spots. Pull into the spot nearest you, then pull through to park in the farther spot. No backing is needed to get into the spot, and you’ll also be able to pull out in forward gear.

13. Parking and Backing If you have no choice but to back: Back slowly
Back no farther than is necessary
Use your mirrors and also turn your head to look over your shoulder
Keep scanning, as described above, until you’ve finished the backing maneuver